Most slide projectors I see these days still seem to use the same sized slides my Dad used in our old family slide projector. Why is this size so popular and is this the size I should use?
	Once I’ve finished taking the photos I need for my presentation, where do I take the film to get my slides made?
	How do I choose a good slide processing lab?

Most slide projectors I see these days still seem to use the same sized slides my Dad used in our old family slide projector. Why is this size so popular and is this the size I should use?

The size you’re referring to is 35mm. It’s the choice of most professional photographers and presenters because it is available in a wider range of film speeds and ‘emulsion’ types than any other format. This gives you a great deal of flexibility when taking photos for your presentation. 35mm film is also cheaper than larger formats and are returned from the lab, ready to be placed in a standard slide projector or onto a light box. This makes it a truly convenient format, which is used and accepted around the world.

Once I’ve finished taking the photos I need for my presentation, where do I take the film to get my slides made?

Some slide (or ‘transparency’) films come with a return mailer, which allows you to post your exposed film off for processing. It will then be returned to you in the mail as a box of slides. This is fine if you have plenty of time on your hands, because it can take up to two weeks to get your slides back. With this system, you pay for the processing when you buy the film.

If you don’t want to be at the whim of the mailman, you should buy film which does not include processing. This way it’sa ctually possible to get slides processed via the photo counter at your local chemist, but this too, may take a week or more.

Your best bet is to buy film (without processing included) and take the exposed roll to a professional, commercial photolab. Most labs can process your film and produce your slides in around two to three hours. It may a cost a little more, but it’s fast and if you go to a reputable lab, you’ll get very high quality results.

How do I choose a good slide processing lab?

If you don’t know of any processing labs in your area, check the phone book under ‘Photographic Processing Services -- Professional’. If you find you have a few labs to choose from, here are some questions you ought to answer before you make your selection.

• How good is their reputation? Are they ‘Q-Lab Certified’? If so, this means they guarantee quality. To Locate a Q-Lab worldwide, use our online Q-Lab locator.

• How fast can they get the job done? As already mentioned, some labs may do the job in just a few hours.

• What kinds of financial arrangements can you make with the lab? Will they allow you to set up an account? Will they give you a discount for large processing orders?

• Will the lab charge extra to date and number the slides. Although dates on slides may not seem important now, if you use some of the slides in the future as stock shots, you may want to know when they were taken. Numbers on the slides may help you when you’re editing sequences together.

• What kind of mounts does the lab use? Some plastic mounts allow the slides to slip sideways. Check that your projection equipment is suited to the type of mounts (cardboard, plastic, glass-mounted) provided by the lab. Glass mounts are recommended, because they protect the film.

			Home | © 2004 All rights reserved.	Site Developed and Maintained by Corporate Communications, Inc.